Blush Pink Nandina

Light Needs

Part Shade to Full Sun

(3+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

2 Feet

Mature Spread

1.5-2 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 10

Blush Pink Nandina adds a soft wash of pink new growth over compact evergreen foliage. This Nandina domestica 'AKA' grows about 2 feet tall and 1.5 to 2 feet wide, giving small spaces a neat, colorful shrub. New leaves emerge blush pink, hold their color for an extended period, then mature to deep green. In fall and winter, the foliage takes on brilliant pink and red tones, providing four seasons of interest. Our favorite use is a repeated low hedge along a path, where the pink tips show up beautifully against darker evergreen plantings.

This Southern Living selection is a non-flowering sport of Firepower Nandina, so it is grown for foliage rather than berries. The compact habit makes Blush Pink Nandina useful in borders, foundation beds, mass plantings, and containers. It is evergreen in warm climates and may act semi-evergreen in colder Zone 6 winters. Deer resistance, pest resistance, and a tidy dwarf shape make it a desirable color accent for mixed shrub beds.

Blush Pink Nandina Care

Plant Blush Pink Nandina in full sun to part shade, or give it morning sun with afternoon protection in hot regions. It adapts to sandy, loamy, or clay soil as long as drainage is good. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is preferred, and very alkaline soil may lead to yellowing foliage.

Water deeply after planting and keep the soil lightly moist while roots establish. Once established, Blush Pink Nandina tolerates brief dry spells, though container plants and sunny sites need more regular checks. Fertilize in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer for acid-loving shrubs. Mulch 1 to 2 inches deep around the root zone, keeping mulch away from the stems.

Blush Pink Nandina usually needs no pruning to keep its compact form. Remove winter-damaged stems in late winter or early spring, cutting individual canes at the base rather than shearing the whole plant flat. In colder gardens, protect containers from repeated freeze-thaw cycles by moving pots near a sheltered wall.

Blush Pink Nandina Spacing

Space Blush Pink Nandina 18 to 24 inches apart for a low hedge or full mass planting. Use the wider spacing when each shrub should stay visually separate. For containers, choose a pot at least 12 to 14 inches wide with drainage holes, and refresh the top layer of potting mix each spring.

For the shrub layer, Blush Pink Nandina sits well in front of boxwoods, holly bushes, or cleyera shrubs, where its smaller size and pink new growth brighten the base of larger evergreens. Along a partially shaded border edge, ajuga can cover the soil below while sharing moderate moisture and protected light. In containers, combine Blush Pink Nandina with bold-colored sedges for contrasting texture, and add dead nettle near the rim for trailing foliage.

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